Part 27: Mission #25: The Amazing Adventures of Treason-Man!

I just noticed that I haven't done an internet update in a while. In all honesty, though, the internet isn't really that interesting. Also, it's basically the same on both branches, meaning that I kind of want to spread it out over the entire Let's Play. I don't know, I kind of want to hear your feelings on the matter.

Mission #25: The Amazing Adventures of Treason-Man!

It's time for more e-mails!


Well, ol' Kazukes, it seems like your dickishness has peaked. Surely there's nothing more you can do be any less likeable?


Throwing your father under a bus, even though everyone else has repeatedly told you that he's innocent? Kazuki, don't ever change. Oh, Ryogo has an email too.


: Damn. Look at this, Kazuki.
: What are you going to do?
: I'll just ignore it.
Oh, Ryogo, much as I have ceded control of this game to the horrible, horrible hivemind, so too are you no longer in control of your actions.


Okay, enough of that, let's get down to the brass tacks, shall we?



Jilong is Chinese for....something. I don't know. I don't speak Chinese...or Japanese...or Filipino. You see, when I was a lad, they made us all take Latin instead. The only meaningful thing I learned is that you pronounced a consonant v as a 'w.' I also learned that the Romans didn't have a 'j' but that was from Indiana Jones.



: Glad to see you're doing well, Han.
: Liu. I hear you work directly under the chairman. I bet you like having the military under your thumb. How did you get in with the chairman? Must've used one of your dirty tricks, eh?
: Don't worry. It was nothing compared to your tactics.
: A secret mission, eh? I heard about the complete destruction of the DHZ fleet in the South China Sea. Was that a part of your mission? It must be nice working for the chairman. They would've discharged you under normal circumstances.
Yep, we managed to get the entire Chinese fleet destroyed a few missions back. Doesn't that technically make us some of greatest heroes in American history?
: What's your point?
: Just making an observation that a top agent also makes mistakes.
: It's because you haven't gotten the Hua Lian Rebels under control.
: That's not our priority at the moment. The USN is infiltrating various parts of Taiwan. I'm busy dealing with them!
So, the DHZ fleet tried to invade the Philippines and got destroyed, and the USN is nearly-openly invading Taiwan. I guess in the future, countries have a pretty high threshold for acts of war.
: So the USN is on the move.
: I don't have the time to babysit you.
: Hey, don't be such an ass!
: Who are they?
: If you have something to say, come out and say it! Why be so obtuse?
: Is this how you ask for help? Well, if I'm the last resort, I'll think about it. But I outrank you here. You'll follow my orders.
: All right.
: That's not the proper response.



There, Pham, nothing obtuse about that.
: ...Yes, Commander Han.
: Okay, then. I'll think about it.
: That's enough! You have something against Liu!?
: Stop, Kazuki!
: But...!
: It's okay.
: You're smart, Liu. It's not a good idea to challenge my authority.
: ...
: Tell the chairman that I was very cooperative. Ha ha ha! Why don't you work under me? I can hire you as an intern.
Is it a paid internship? Because, honestly, the party is the worst paid group of mercenaries.
: The USN squad landed in Xueshan and is invading Taipei.
: Liu! You're not going to say anything!?
: Don't let him bother you. Listen...(Han is no help. We'll have to move on our own.)
: (Do you have a lead?)
: (Possibly. We're meeting him at a bar.)



Stoolie? Does Kazuki think he's in some sort of noir thriller?
: That man in the brown suit. That's him.
Eh, I'd rather talk to strangers first.
: Do you know who profits in times of war? The weapon manufacturers. The wanzer factories are making a ton of money these days. The crooks who exploit the war end up rich.
: The military is on alert because of the Hua Lian Rebels. I hear that the military arrests visitors, too. I wish things would quiet down. You should be careful.
: Do you know what spenders are? Those hackers do anything for money. And Moneymaker is the best hacker around. You wanna know more about spenders? I'll tell you their web address. What do you need them to do?
I still think 'spenders' is a terrible name for hackers. Oh, well, let's talk to our contact.
: Thanks for meeting us, Ambassador Clay.
: I understand this is an emergency, but this place is too busy. Think of my position.
: Places like these are less conspicuous.
: Is he the stoolie?
What the hell is up with you today, Kazuki?
: Stoolie!? How rude!
: This is Ambassador Clay of the USN embassy.
: A USN ambassador!?
: ...by day. He's a DHZ intelligence man by night.
He's like a super-hero...except instead of fighting crime, he's committing numerous acts of high treason.
: A USN ambassador is a spy?
: So he's reliable.
: Who are they? Are they Japanese?
: They're some mercenaries I hired.
: When did the intelligence bureau turn into a babysitting service?
: Babysitting!?
: They're more capable than some incompetent commander.
: You mean Han? It's true, he only thinks of his own promotion. He's a small petty man.
: That's why we came to see you.
: You want to know about the USN's air drop mission? The military and the FAI are cooperating. The guerillas will attack the transport carrying the target, then the air drop squad will capture the target.
Treason-Man swoops into action and saves the day!
: Is Alisa their target?
: Alisa?
: The JDF scientist we're protecting.
Yes, we should trust this man with all of our secrets. He would never betray two countries.
: And that scientist know how to make MIDAS? Then you should escape Taiwan now. The USN plans on killing all of you if they can't capture the scientist.
: So they'll kill everyone who knows anything about MIDAS. Do you know the route the air drop squad is taking?
: I don't know. But I heard they hired a spender. It's going to
be full-scale.
: A spender?
: You don't know anything, do you? They're hackers who'll do anything for money.
: I'll buy some time running false information. Try to get to the DHZ in the meantime.
It's a good thing that everyone's intelligence services are equally sieve-like, or we'd be in real trouble.
: Thanks.
: I received internal data on the Taal Base. It might come in handy. Take it. Let's split. I don't want people to see us.
That data allows you to run simulated battles at Taal. You can use it to grind experience and cash. If I were playing by myself, I'd almost never to use it, but you kids and your damn fancy wanzers...



: He only thinks about getting promoted.
: Leave him alone. We'll never see him once we're in Shangahai.
: At least Ryogo is harmless.
: Ah! You finally realize my charm?
: Ryogo, she's making fun of you.
For those who didn't follow my last LP, I spent a lot of fucking time with crappy harem romance bullshit. There are many bad things about Front Mission 3's plot, but at least I don't have to deal with that.
: Are we returning to Jilong Base?
Yeah, let's get this moving.



You know, I want to see a spin-off featuring Liu and Miho becoming private detectives in future-Chicago. They could call it Lady Blue and Liu. I think this game may be starting to destroy my mind.
: I'm afraid you can't use it.
: What do you mean!?
: Take a look.



And the base's mainframe has been hacked. Can't we have any competent allies? Just for once?  Also, given how fucking irritating Moneymaker is in the other branch, can't she just leave me alone in this one? 

: Someone hacked into the sea and air transport control.
: What!?
: Without the control system, no transports can be sent out.
: When will the system recover?
: We're trying to identify the culprit. That'll take a while.
Yeah, I mean, it's not he or she wrote his or her name in giant letters ACROSS THE ENTIRE FUCKING SCREEN!
: I see why they hired a USN spender... Han, ready a transport!
: We've been through this!
: We can fly on our own.
: Hey, what are you saying!?
: The USN is trying to limit our modes of transportation. Let's play on their expectations.
: ! What is it!?
: The enemies are on the runaway. They're destroying the hangar!
What? Oh, come on, Han, you're not even trying!
: !
: Dispatch the wanzer squad! Looks like the USN is one step ahead of us.
: Liu!
: I know! Han, we're going!
: As you wish.
: The enemies are retreating.
: What!?
: I guess they didn't come to get us.
: Don't let them get away!
Yes! Blood must be shed for inconveniencing the party!
: Hey, Kazuki! Wait!
: They're a nuisance.
: Should we send backup?
: Don't waste our forces on them. It'll be better if they don't come back.



I knew someday Kazuki would bring war to the suburbs...it was just a matter of time.



: Why are we retreating? Can't we just catch the target?
Oh, it's these guys again.
: We're here to deal with the JDF scientists, not the DHZ. We don't need to fight within an enemy base.
: Then why did the transport have to be destroyed!?
: To improve our chances on this mission. I still may have launched even the controls out. That would have destroyed the purpose of our trap.
: Don't let Moneymaker hear you. It'll mean you doubt her.
: Is she really trustworthy? She's just a kid.
: Even so, she's the best. Everyone knows who Moneymaker is.
: Oh really? That girl's that famous...?



: Hey, they're the ones that got in our way back in Taal Base! They came all the way here to get captured by us?
Didn't I crush these guys last time?
: Looks' like there aren't any units. Either, they're sure they're good, or they're stupid...Purple Haze, avoid combat. We're pulling out.
: What do you mean? If we get 'em now, our mission is complete. Let's start the party! All units spread out!
: All right, let's rock!
: So hot-headed...



Time to fight, and time for the debut of new wanzers. For this mission, we've got the twin-gunned Bullet Hell and Mmmbop..., the double-fisted Yamato Nadeshiko, and the Gladiator, who didn't succumb to peer pressure and has but a single fist. It's our four against the two Grapples and two Reksons of Purple Haze. The fight will take place almost entirely on that road running from the top to the bottom in the middle of the map.



And it only took one round of combat for me to lose all faith in the Yamato Nadeshiko's abilities. IceMole, hang your head in shame!



Miho, on the other hand, manages to do well.



Very well.



IceMole, hang your head down even further!



Gastor is the first to fall as Ryogo pumps him full of bullet after bullet.
: Uh... This is it for me...



Dennis is next as Miho crushes his wanzer with her mighty fist.
: I failed... BRAVO, do you copy?
: Is this the FAI? I hear you!
: We've lost command... I'm transferring command over to you.
: Roger, I'll take it from here.
: ...Thanks.



Joe, if you have any last words you'd like to share...



: I just can't seem to get the rhythm goin'.
Sudden loss of rhythm kills more than 10,000 people a year, you know.



Miho decides to bring the pain to Cindy.



Good, but what else can you do for me?



Better.



That'll do it.
: You're pretty good.



Not that good, apparently. The reason I keep hitting these weapon damage penalties is because you guys keep forcing me to change everyone's weapons, meaning that the party isn't able to level up properly. Miho wins MVP.



: Hey, weren't they the ones from the Philippine base?
Were being the operative word.
: Yeah, I think they're following us. They're probably just as anxious to control MIDAS's secrets.
: What are we going to do now, Liu?
: We have to figure out our next move. We'll go back to base for now.

Next Time: Kazuki and the Tunnel of Love!